Archive for April 2013
Speak Up storyteller: Kim Damokosh
Two weeks before our inaugural Speak Up storytelling event at Real Art Ways in Hartford, CT. May 4 at 7:00 PM. Admission is free. Today I’m proud to introduce our fifth storyteller, Kim Damokosh. Her bio was written by her teenage daughter, Emma. _____________________________ Kim Damokosh My mom, Kim Damokosh, is a woman of many…
Read MoreLove makes up for a lot.
Our cat is annoying. He bothers us while we sleep. He bothers us while we are awake. He eats plastic and cashmere.He bites when over-stimulated.He throws constantly (though admittedly less often).He refuses to jump up on the counter for his food, even though he is perfectly capable. His one saving grace is that our children…
Read MoreThe genius and insight of Dove is unparalleled
I would love to work for Dove. The things that Dove has done in terms of women and beauty are masterful. This video is no exception. As a man, I find it so hard and so potentially treacherous to comment on the problems (as I see them) in terms of women and image perception. But…
Read MoreMy middle school visit included a comparison to a Boston mobster, an accusation that I am old and time spent in the ladies restroom
I spent the day at a middle school in New Hampshire on Friday, talking to students about writing. A few notes from the day: 1. I started the day by accidentally walking into the ladies restroom. It’s bad enough that I do this in malls, libraries and other public locations, but a middle school is…
Read MoreKid words for future characters
I keep a list of all the invented and divergent words and phrases that my daughter uses in hopes of sprinkling these gems into future dialogue. Two that I recently added to the list are pancholeen and last day. Panchleen is the word that Clara uses for trampoline. Last day is the phrase she uses…
Read MoreDinosaur wrangler
My favorite part of this picture is how my daughter took immediately control of the situation. If the dinosaurs come back they would… “What would they do? Hell no. I’d put that dinosaur on a leash and take it for a walk. No dinosaur’s going to wander around my neighborhood.” Or something like that.
Read MoreThe Moth: Science Fair Cheater
On August 23, 2012, I took the stage at The Moth StorySLAM at Housing Works in Manhattan to tell a story. The theme of the night was Yin/Yang. I told a story about cheating in my high school science fair and unintentionally doing well. I placed second on the evening, losing by a tenth of…
Read MoreNew best headline ever
Back in 2011, I proposed that this was the best headline ever: Teen Burglar Kills Goldfish Because He Didn’t Want To Leave Any Witnesses, Cops Say Two years later, we have a new headline champion: Alleged son of Westboro Baptist Church leader attacked in publicity stunt by naked 500lb man who burst out of bathroom,…
Read MoreChildren swallowing poisoned beads was not my original plan. I swear.
In 2012 I participated in the Books on the Nightstand Booktopia event in Santa Cruz, California. The culmination of the weekend is an event called the Celebration of Author, wherein each author speaks for about ten minutes. My talk, as well as that of author Cara Black, was broadcast on the Books on the Nightstand…
Read MoreJumping out of a plane without a parachute is dangerous enough. Adding an additional layer of danger is just stupid.
I am not an overly cautious person. I have experienced my fair share of danger over the years. I have almost died more than anyone I know. I’m the only person I know who desperately wants to play tackle football with his friends. I wear a helmet while riding my bike but only to set…
Read More